Chapter 676: Twists and Turns
In the headmaster's office, the phoenix crooned softly by Dumbledore's ear.
"Gaelert has been taken away? Well... those people have a nasty attitude, Fawkes. We can't expect everyone to share our views. They're just doing their job," Dumbledore reassured softly, as Fawkes lowered his head, allowing Dumbledore to stroke his feathers.
Felix waved his hand through the air, and a mirror appeared out of nowhere.
Magical symbols flickered around the edge of the mirror, and its surface rippled like water. Through layers of mist, a still image appeared: a grassy field with a giant serpent hanging in mid-air.
Dumbledore stared into the mirror, then, after a moment, he composed himself and said, "Felix, it's just us now. While Harry needs a bit more time, I have something to discuss with you."
Felix glanced nervously at Fawkes, who looked forlorn, hunched over.
"I have something to ask as well— is it worth it, Albus?"
Dumbledore chuckled lightly. "Almost a year ago, around this time, Voldemort asked me the same question." He glanced at the scene in the mirror, then said with some effort, "My answer remains the same as it was then: it's worth it."
Felix furrowed his brow. "I thought you'd come up with a better solution than trading one life for another... plus two soul projections."
"It's a necessary sacrifice, for... for a greater good."
"I can't think of any 'good' greater than that of a great wizard." Felix said calmly. "You showed me that prophecy, you know better than I do how crucial a great wizard is in the current situation."
"But the question is, what do people need from me?" Dumbledore said lightly. "Wisdom? Power? Prestige? I'm afraid even if I were whole, I couldn't meet their expectations."
"You did it half a century ago." Felix raised his voice slightly. "I remember a book calling you the 'protector of Muggles and Muggle-born wizards'."
Dumbledore smiled bitterly. "As you said— just a protector, nothing more. You should know what happened to me— my sister became an Obscurial, my poor father died in Azkaban, my mother lost her life caring for Ariana— know the roots of all this pain. Felix, I was full of resentment at the time, I hope you understand the meaning of that word, that's why I agreed with Gaelert. At that time, my danger was no less than Gaelert's!"
Felix let out a breath, dispelling the chill in his heart.
"Are you afraid of becoming the second Grindelwald?"
"Yes, I am," Dumbledore admitted frankly. "Only I know how close I am to taking that step, I never intended to abuse Muggles, but I assumed that innocent people would be harmed. This number grew larger as Gaelert and I discussed it more and more, yet I numbed my conscience with hollow excuses. So reality struck me hard. I woke up, but the cost was too great to bear... so I constantly remind myself, I cannot have power, only the school is suitable for me."
"In the years that followed, I protected Muggle-born wizard families as much as possible, opposed the abuse of Muggles, opposed war. Did you notice, Felix? All of this happened naturally while the Statute of Secrecy was in normal operation. But what if it's reversed? If the tragedies that happened to me occur again and again before me, if I have the power to change the world, can I still maintain a clear and rational mind? Losing wisdom, power, and prestige would be the real harm."
Tears slid from the tip of his nose.
It seemed like something was blocking Felix's heart.
A moment of silence. Then, Harry appeared on the screen, looking up at the serpent in the sky - he could clearly sense a part of his own magic and emotions within this giant guardian.
Dumbledore reached out his hand. "I think it's time to transfer the charm."
"Is there enough time?" Felix asked quietly.
He looked at the mirror, where Harry was waving his wand, causing the massive serpent to twist and turn. After a moment of struggle, the serpent suddenly collapsed, dispersing into a shower of silver light. Like morning mist in the woods, it vanished in an instant under the sunlight.
"That's enough, really quite simple," Dumbledore nodded slightly. "But once the charm is transferred, my magic must be removed first, then replaced with yours. This may take a few hours."
"Then let's begin," Felix said, lowering his gaze. He knew he had just taken on a heavy responsibility from Dumbledore's hands.
...
Time rewound to a moment ago, when something with far-reaching consequences in the future was about to happen.
"Ron? Hermione? What are you doing here?" Harry, feeling uncomfortable, shook off Snape's greasy hair and was surprised to see the two running up the stairs towards him.
Ron was speechless, obviously not expecting to run into Snape. Hermione stammered, "S-Sorry, Professor Snape, we just wanted to come up and see—oh, I mean, we've followed the professors' orders to maintain order, and now all the lower-year students have returned to the common room. Only some of the upper-year students are still in the Great Hall, they don't want to leave—"
Harry blinked. He almost forgot he was wearing Snape's face now.
"I understand," he said calmly, and continued downstairs.
"It's incredible, to have escaped like that!" Ron patted his chest, still shaken. "I thought for sure we'd get punished, what if we were put in detention and missed the end-of-term holidays—What's wrong, Hermione?"
Hermione stared expressionlessly at the corner of the stairs where Harry had just disappeared.
"It's strange, Professor Snape actually called us by our names."
"Oh! Now that you mention it, that is a bit strange," Ron scratched his head. "But we better meet up with Harry first, even if we don't see him, we can ask other professors what's going on."
"Okay, you're right," Hermione said, and the two continued upstairs.
Meanwhile, in a room on the second floor of the castle, where the door and window were tightly closed, Professor McGonagall twisted her fingers in the darkness, occasionally glancing at the person lying unconscious on the sofa - they were colleagues not long ago.
Knock knock!
The knock startled her. She took out a lace handkerchief to wipe her eyes, took a deep breath, and regained her usual solemn demeanor. Then she opened the office door, and Professor Sprout was standing outside.
"Pomona, you're back! Oh, and you two, come in—"
Professor Sprout walked in, exchanging a glance with McGonagall. Following her was a dark-skinned man, no longer young, with a serious face, wrinkles on his forehead matching the curve of his drooping mouth. He was dressed in dark blue wizard robes, with a badge on the collar. As he entered and took off his hat, his gray, coiled hair clung tightly to his scalp.
Without waiting for Professor Sprout to introduce, he reached out his hand proactively.
"Hello, I'm Babajide Akingbade."
McGonagall was slightly surprised. "The new chairman of the International Confederation of Wizards?" Babajide nodded, and at that moment, four smartly dressed, compact-looking wizards also entered. "They are members of the law enforcement team I brought, responsible for this escort mission—Rodney," he said solemnly, as a middle-aged wizard walked to the sofa and lit his wand to check on the unconscious Grindelwald.
"Get away, you ugly bird," the member said, and Fawkes, serving as the room's light source, glared at him discontentedly.
McGonagall frowned.
"Can we have some light, please?" Babajide said. "It's a bit dark in here. My team may not be able to see clearly."
McGonagall pursed her lips, not saying anything. She waved her wand, and soft light poured down from the ceiling, brightening the office instantly.
"Magic lamps?" Babajide said with great interest. "I've been wanting to have a chat with Mr. Hagrid about that... and of course Dumbledore too, I hope to listen to his wisdom, but business first."
Professor Sprout suddenly let out a scream. Both turned to look, and Professor Sprout stammered, "H-He... He used the sting hex."
"Akingbade, your law enforcement process is too rough. This is abuse," McGonagall said sternly.
"No, this is a necessary inspection, Professor," the member grinned, tilting his head. "No problem! He's sleeping like a log, next up is the binding charm, the impediment curse, the silencing charm—I've read an internal document that says he's as slippery as an eel—"
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